We got the bus to Boa Viagem by the beach (although we never went there) and stayed here after Dave spent ages trying to find us a hotel.

Spent afternoon in Boa Viagem went up to Shopping Recife the big shopping centre and watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2 which was pretty good. In the evening went to the Praca de Boa Viagem with lots of food stalls and eat there which was cool - and cheap!

Today got bus into town to look around the sights here. Again lots of nice colonial buildings but intermingled with new high rises too. Highlight was definitely the Capela Dourada (golden chapel) incredibly ornate and gold (funnily enough!). A lot of the buildings are very well kept but many are dilapidated too. After lots of churches and other buildings went around the commercial centre of the town which is very bustly with lots of markets

. A guy who ran a stall selling glasses kindly fixed mine for free but first gave us the music and lyrics and a performance of a song he wrote and wants us to get it recorded at home (hhmmmmmmmmm?) Had lunch in a great restaurant with loads of choice - lots of places here you load up your plate and they weigh it by the kilo. Fortunately they also have troughs for Dave - only joking (just checking to see if he ever reads this).

Have spent the last few days wondering about changing our route a bit as Brazil is quite expensive compared to the rest of S America and also we are in danger of being a bit colonial towned so instead of going to Ouro Preto etc inland after Salvador we are going to fly to Rio. So rushed up to the shopping centre to buy our flight (you cant seem to buy any flights online here with a UK credit card annoyingly) and managed to do it in time and get to the bus station for our bus to Recife! Was all a bit stressful though.